Things to do in Cairns

Our tour was delayed by an hour because of bad weather (quite unseasonal, considering winter is supposed to be the "dry season"), but honestly they made the right call! We had a brief window of okay weather and good visibility over the reefs. The pilot Jesse was very nice and cheerful; he made me sit beside him seeing that I was travelling solo, and honestly it made the experience so much better! Also, that was one of the smoothest landings I've ever experienced for an aircraft; I didn't even notice we were already on wheels on the runway. Highly recommend this tour! But allow some flexibility in your schedule as it is a very weather-dependent activity: keep an eye on the forecast 2-3 days before locking in a date.

We saw so much in one day!Admittedly, it can feel a little rushed at times but that's the only way to fit everything in. Sheryl was an amazing tour guide! Her passion for her work, her love for the rainforest, and her respect for the Indigenous people and culture was evident in the way she spoke and interacted with everyone. I did not have high expectation fo the included lunch but it was quite delicious! I also overheard someone else say the same. 10/10

Since I was a bit nervous about swimming, I opted for the glass-bottom boat and snorkeling package! The glass-bottom boat was amazing; just looking down, I could see beautiful fish and sea turtles, which was truly breathtaking. For snorkeling, I paid an additional AUD 12 to rent a life vest! Just a short distance away, there were schools of colorful fish, and swimming among them myself was a completely different experience. (The fish themselves were actually clearer to see from the glass-bottom boat!) Coin lockers, the souvenir shop, and restaurants all accepted credit card payments!

The onboard staff were very enthusiastic and provided detailed introductions. After boarding, we left our ID at the counter to borrow prescription diving masks. At the second dive site, we decided on the spot to pay the 20 AUD for the glass-bottom boat ride, where we saw many fish and corals. The meals on board were simple and average, so those who care about food can bring their own snacks. Also, it is recommended to take motion sickness medicine to avoid ruining a wonderful trip.

Wonderful experience! Well ogranized for over 100 passsengers, from safety, seating, equipment to lunch and afternoon tea. Great for our first time snorkelling, and staff were friendly. unfortunately, the helicopter was cancelled due to the weather but everything else was good. Even though we got really seasick (although we took tablets), it was totally worth it!

Great day tour at the Reef, we got to stop at 2 diving spots and my package also includes 1 helicopter flight. The operator also has a photographer, who helped you took underwater photos which you can purchased later (though it is quite pricey at $20/pic). Lunch is basic (steak, prawns, grilled fish, salad & pasta) but delicious, and the prawns were very fresh. What I wish could have been better is the helicopter flight announcement - it would have been better if they announced my turn roughly 10-15 mins before the flight took off, so I'd have enough time to change to normal clothes (I was snorkelling right before that). Also I believe if passengers are given at least 30 mins before departure to take motion sickness pills, it will work better. Some passengers on my trip took the pill but still got sick, maybe bcoz the pill did not have enough time to take effect (you gotta take it after breakfast, at least 30 mins before departure).

Service was fast and convenient. The train made a stop at Barron Falls station for us to have a look. Do keep in mind the weather can get windy at times (especially when ascending uphill), so keep a light jacket & hat with you. Upon arriving at Kuranda you'll have roughly 3-4 hours to explore around.

View of Daintree rainforest from the sky. we switched to 2-way Cable car as the return train ride was pretty late and we were staying at Port Douglas. There were 3 stops and we could see Baron Falls plus walk around the Kurang Village.

the aquarium is very nice with ecologists dharing knowledge of the marine life.